Canada Honours Nigeria Customs Boss After Recovery Of 65 Stolen Luxury Vehicles
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) International Special Services has commended the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for its strong commitment to safeguarding borders and disrupting transnational organised crime through strategic partnerships and intelligence-driven operations.
Over time, a total of 65 stolen Canadian luxury vehicles were recovered in Nigeria, including 12 recently intercepted by the RCMP Liaison Office in Lagos.
The High Commissioner of Canada to Nigeria, His Excellency Pasquale Salvaggio, said these recoveries benefitted multiple enforcement agencies and honoured the memory of fallen heroes who sacrificed during this operation.
During an official ceremony at the Canadian High Commission in Abuja, Salvaggio presented an award to Comptroller-General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi for his leadership in combating cross-border crimes.
Salvaggio praised Adeniyi for, “disrupting international crime syndicates, highlighted the interception of exotic vehicles valued in the millions of dollars and the seizure of several kilograms of synthetic cannabis, known as ‘loud,’ smuggled from Canada into Nigeria through various ports and unapproved routes.
“The recent recovery of 12 luxury vehicles by the RCMP Liaison Office in Lagos, adding to the 53 earlier recovered. This brings the total number of stolen Canadian vehicles intercepted in Nigeria to 65.
“Through Nigeria Customs’ support and collaboration with Canadian and Nigerian law enforcement, we have disrupted key international crime networks and protected our borders”.
In his remarks, Adeniyi thanked the Government of Canada and reaffirmed NCS’s dedication to international cooperation in combating illicit trade.
“This recognition reflects the success of our collaborative approach. We value strong relationships with RCMP, CBSA, EFCC, NDLEA, and Interpol. Together, we deliver tangible benefits to both nations and global trade,” Adeniyi stated.
He proposed formalising the partnership with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NCS and the Canadian Border Services Agency to institutionalise cooperation on enforcement, intelligence sharing, and training.
Adeniyi also stressed that, as active members of the World Customs Organisation (WCO), Nigeria and Canada must deepen customs collaboration globally to tackle modern crime effectively.
Director General of RCMP International Special Services, Mr. Liam Price, said customs partnership is critical to Canada’s international enforcement efforts and its role in fighting organised crime.
Also honoured were key Nigerian enforcement agency leaders, including EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, and NDLEA Chairman/CEO Brigadier General Buba Marwa (rtd) represented by Barr. Shadrach Haruna, and Inspector General of Police Dr Kayode Egbetokun represented AIG Olaolu Adegbite of Interpol Nigeria.
Canada Honours Nigeria Customs Boss After Recovery Of 65 Stolen Luxury Vehicles is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
